The Picks: Cupcake games are here to stay

Published: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 8:29 p.m.

Not for The Picks. Thanks to a bunch of easy ones, Dr. Football enjoyed a 9-1 week. If only I hadn’t been fooled by BYU’s romp of Texas and had picked Utah in that game, I’d have been a perfect 10-0.

But it was a crummy week for viewers. On Saturday night, when I’d usually come home and watch a bunch of great late-night football games with my family, I was left alone while my wife and daughter watched “The Real Housewives of Haile Plantation” or something like that in the bedroom. I tried to force myself to get into the games that were on, but ended up switching it between an old movie and a re-run of “The Newsroom” season finale.

And don’t expect it to change.

It’s not just that the have-nots need these games to help fund their programs. The haves need these games to help their budgets as well. Seven home games bring in a lot more money than six.

That’s one thing that a lot of the talking heads don’t understand. Of course, these are the same people who want players to be true student-athletes, but want them to schedule like the NFL.

Still, there is no truth to the rumor that after a high school coach in Utah suspended his entire team he was immediately contacted by three Top 25 schools about playing a game.

The season record stands at 32-8, but it will be tested this week because there are a lot of coin-flippers.

Florida at Kentucky: The key for Florida will be to make sure nobody gets injured in line for the pre-game meal. Seriously, have you ever seen a Gator team have so many significant injuries three games into a season? You have to wonder how these lost players will affect this team not only physically but mentally. One thing I’ve seen is these Gators have shown a lot of resolve. Florida, 28-20.

LSU at Georgia: Most of the attention in this game will be on the quarterbacks (especially because Zach Mettenberger grew up in Athens and his mom works in the Georgia football offices). But I’d bet a nickel that this game will be decided by the team that runs the ball better. Georgia, 34-28.

Oklahoma at Notre Dame: Is Blake Bell’s nickname the best in college football? “The Belldozer” has shown he can throw it, too. Oklahoma, 30-23.

Ole Miss at Alabama: Florida fans have rightfully complained about the scheduling in the SEC. How about Ole Miss? This is the second straight year they have to go to Tuscaloosa. That’s not right. Alabama, 37-14.

Texas A&M at Arkansas: Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said one reason the Razorbacks faltered down the stretch against Rutgers was because they got too excited when they opened up a 17-point lead. That won’t be a problem this week. Texas A&M, 42-21.

South Carolina at UCF: The SEC needs the Gamecocks to take this game seriously. South Carolina, 27-17.

Wisconsin at Ohio State: Just think how hyped this game would be if the officials hadn’t stolen that game from Bucky Badger two weeks ago. Ohio State, 34-31.

Miami at South Florida: The USF program has fallen faster than a bag of hammers from a helicopter. Miami, 42-8.

FSU at Boston College: Steve Addazio probably thought he was finished with the Seminoles when he left Florida. FSU, 54-13.

Arizona at Washington: This is a battle of unbeatens. Really. I looked it up. Washington, 27-20.

Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.

<p>Who says last week was a crummy week for football?</p><p>Not for The Picks. Thanks to a bunch of easy ones, Dr. Football enjoyed a 9-1 week. If only I hadn't been fooled by BYU's romp of Texas and had picked Utah in that game, I'd have been a perfect 10-0.</p><p>But it was a crummy week for viewers. On Saturday night, when I'd usually come home and watch a bunch of great late-night football games with my family, I was left alone while my wife and daughter watched “The Real Housewives of Haile Plantation” or something like that in the bedroom. I tried to force myself to get into the games that were on, but ended up switching it between an old movie and a re-run of “The Newsroom” season finale.</p><p>And don't expect it to change. </p><p>It's not just that the have-nots need these games to help fund their programs. The haves need these games to help their budgets as well. Seven home games bring in a lot more money than six.</p><p>That's one thing that a lot of the talking heads don't understand. Of course, these are the same people who want players to be true student-athletes, but want them to schedule like the NFL. </p><p>Still, there is no truth to the rumor that after a high school coach in Utah suspended his entire team he was immediately contacted by three Top 25 schools about playing a game.</p><p>The season record stands at 32-8, but it will be tested this week because there are a lot of coin-flippers.</p><p><b>Florida at Kentucky:</b> The key for Florida will be to make sure nobody gets injured in line for the pre-game meal. Seriously, have you ever seen a Gator team have so many significant injuries three games into a season? You have to wonder how these lost players will affect this team not only physically but mentally. One thing I've seen is these Gators have shown a lot of resolve. Florida, 28-20.</p><p><b>LSU at Georgia:</b> Most of the attention in this game will be on the quarterbacks (especially because Zach Mettenberger grew up in Athens and his mom works in the Georgia football offices). But I'd bet a nickel that this game will be decided by the team that runs the ball better. Georgia, 34-28.</p><p><b>Oklahoma at Notre Dame:</b> Is Blake Bell's nickname the best in college football? “The Belldozer” has shown he can throw it, too. Oklahoma, 30-23.</p><p><b>Ole Miss at Alabama:</b> Florida fans have rightfully complained about the scheduling in the SEC. How about Ole Miss? This is the second straight year they have to go to Tuscaloosa. That's not right. Alabama, 37-14.</p><p><b>Texas A&M at Arkansas:</b> Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said one reason the Razorbacks faltered down the stretch against Rutgers was because they got too excited when they opened up a 17-point lead. That won't be a problem this week. Texas A&M, 42-21.</p><p><b>South Carolina at UCF:</b> The SEC needs the Gamecocks to take this game seriously. South Carolina, 27-17.</p><p><b>Wisconsin at Ohio State:</b> Just think how hyped this game would be if the officials hadn't stolen that game from Bucky Badger two weeks ago. Ohio State, 34-31.</p><p><b>Miami at South Florida:</b> The USF program has fallen faster than a bag of hammers from a helicopter. Miami, 42-8.</p><p><b>FSU at Boston College:</b> Steve Addazio probably thought he was finished with the Seminoles when he left Florida. FSU, 54-13.</p><p><b>Arizona at Washington:</b> This is a battle of unbeatens. Really. I looked it up. Washington, 27-20.</p><p><i>Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.</i></p>